Flu vaccine not as effective as some laymen thought

[Texashiker]

Not an antivaccine thread, some protection is better then none.

Flu jab isn't perfect by a long shot, health officials admit

http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/...ct-by-a-long-shot-health-officials-admit?lite

government health officials today pegged the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine at about 62 percent.

And people wonder why I would rather catch the flu then taking a vaccine? At least with catching the flu you develop natural antibodies.

Flu vaccines are tricky to make because flu viruses are constantly changing and because human immune response wanes quickly after immunization, Bresee said.

Thread title edited for clarity. This isn't new research, this has been known. -DrPizza

 

[jstern01]

Problem with that logic, is you can catch it multiple times in a season, because it mutates and your immunity does not provide protection then. Same logic applies to the vaccine. Its a crap shoot if they guess right, and that is why the shot is a cocktail of various flu viruses, they hope one is the right one.

One other note is you are more likely if your are young, old or suffer certain medical conditions to be a more risk of death, if you do not get the vaccine. So gamble at your risk.

 

[sportage]

Healthcare providers, i.e. the nurse, on a large scale refused to take the shot in the past.
Now they are forced to shoot up, or get fired.
Some have chosen the second option.

Personally, I believe the shot helps. You may still get a really bad cold, but not the flu.

Someone should start a thread here with a poll, comparing those that got a shot last fall with those that caught the flu this winter? Or caught a cold but not the flu.

 

[wirednuts]

these flu shots will be looked back on as one of the dumbest things we did in this era. we dont even know how our immune systems really work, but we know how to make one shot for everyone in the world? its a joke. its an experiment. you are the test. oh you get to pay for it too, thanks.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Its more essential for older and weak people. Since they can actually die from a flu infection.

All oterwise sick/weak people and anyone over 65 years gets it for free here. Actually its even broadcasted as TV commercials that they need to remember it.

And as said, it mutates several times a year. So you only build up immunity to something that is in the past when you get over the flu. Next year or even just some months later, you are sick again.

 

[Cerb]

Isn't 62% pretty good?

That said, green vegetables and vitamin C will help quite a bit, regardless of vaccine efficacy.

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

And people wonder why I would rather catch the flu then taking a vaccine? At least with catching the flu you develop natural antibodies.

Uhhhhh.....what?

 

[Nintendesert]

Uhhhhh.....what?

He's an antivaccine nutter.

 

[BudAshes]

not this again...

 

[GreenMeters]

And people wonder why I would rather catch the flu then taking a vaccine? At least with catching the flu you develop natural antibodies.

If you are capable of getting the flu vaccine but choose not to, you are an asshole.

 

[Muse]

Not an antivaccine thread, some protection is better then none.


http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/...ct-by-a-long-shot-health-officials-admit?lite


And people wonder why I would rather catch the flu then taking a vaccine? At least with catching the flu you develop natural antibodies.

Oh, yeah, have fun with your natural antibodies.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I don't have a problem with vaccines. I just have a problem with me getting a vaccine for something relatively benign. Those with compromised immune systems should consider it. I'd rather save the $10 and sore arm and let somebody else have that unit of vaccine.

 

[Texashiker]

If you are capable of getting the flu vaccine but choose not to, you are an asshole.

did you read the article on the opening post?

Even though people got the flu vaccine this year, it did not protect them.

Thread title edited for clarity. This isn't new research, this has been known. -DrPizza

Original thread title is relevant to the current flu outbreak.

Did you even bother to read the linked article?

The flu vaccine this year was not as effective as doctors thought.

 

[LegendKiller]

I don't have a problem with vaccines. I just have a problem with me getting a vaccine for something relatively benign. Those with compromised immune systems should consider it. I'd rather save the $10 and sore arm and let somebody else have that unit of vaccine.

The amount of lost productivity that the flu causes is huge. The more people vaccinated the more effective the coverage, the more effective the coverage the less likely somebody with compromised immune systems will be affected.

My dad has terminal cancer and caught it from somebody. He had to get checked into the hospital for 3 days. Even if the shot costs $10 and is 62% effective that's a hell of a lot better than $10k in bills and 0% effective.

Murhicans love to be fucking stupid though. It's why we drive huge SUVs with nobody in them.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Another ignorance in medicine thread.

Boston declared a state of emergency because they are overwhelmed, and now we hear "yeah other people need them" or "i have natural antibodies" as if there were anything else.

Egads again.

 

[LegendKiller]

did you read the article on the opening post?

Even though people got the flu vaccine this year, it did not protect them.




Original thread title is relevant to the current flu outbreak.

Did you even bother to read the linked article?

The flu vaccine this year was not as effective as doctors thought.

It might not have protected all of them but it probably protected some, ~60% even. The cost of the shot is minimal compared to the cost of lost productivity.

 

[Texashiker]

Another ignorance in medicine thread.

Did you read the linked article in the opening post?

 

[GreenMeters]

Even though people got the flu vaccine this year, it did not protect them.

For 62% of them it did. More importantly, consider the number of people who due to illness or allergies cannot receive the flu vaccine--how many of their lives were saved by the boost to herd immunity? How many more could have been saved if you and people like you would stop being assholes and get the damn flu shot?

If you are capable of getting the flu vaccine but choose not to, you are an asshole.

 

[Texashiker]

If you are capable of getting the flu vaccine but choose not to, you are an asshole.

Then I am an asshole.

If you are worried about the flu, then you get the shot.

 

[SilthDraeth]

My kids have been getting the flu vaccine each year for past few years, and they still always get just as sick. Most the things that hit my kids hard, are "bacterial" or so the doctor is thinking, or assuming as antibiotics are almost always prescribed.

Note, I don't bother with the doc, or antibiotics, unless its high fever, ie over 103, and tylenol isn't lowering it.

One year, kid had to be admitted for several days at the hospital, because he was vomiting up medication and becoming dehydrated and had prolonged fever.

Flu shot stopped none of this.

Of course, it may have stopped actual flu's that I never learned of. Then again, all their symptoms fit the flew, and who really knows if the cause is bacterial or viral unless cultures, etc are taken?

Just questions and observations from a parent.

Being that I survived childhood, and the doctor my kids see was my pediatrician, and I feel he is competent, I will still follow his advice, as he is certainly in a better position to make the judgement than I am.

 

[child of wonder]

My kids have been getting the flu vaccine each year for past few years, and they still always get just as sick. Most the things that hit my kids hard, are "bacterial" or so the doctor is thinking, or assuming as antibiotics are almost always prescribed.

Note, I don't bother with the doc, or antibiotics, unless its high fever, ie over 103, and tylenol isn't lowering it.

One year, kid had to be admitted for several days at the hospital, because he was vomiting up medication and becoming dehydrated and had prolonged fever.

Flu shot stopped none of this.

Of course, it may have stopped actual flu's that I never learned of. Then again, all their symptoms fit the flew, and who really knows if the cause is bacterial or viral unless cultures, etc are taken?

Just questions and observations from a parent.

Being that I survived childhood, and the doctor my kids see was my pediatrician, and I feel he is competent, I will still follow his advice, as he is certainly in a better position to make the judgement than I am.

Are you saying that because your kids catch bacterial infections you believe the flu vaccine is ineffective and you treat your kids by not taking them to the Dr. and refusing antibiotics?

You are an unfit mother. Your children will be placed in the custody of Carl's Jr. Carl's Jr -- Fuck you, I'm eating!

 

[monovillage]

I saw my Doctor last week. I got a flu shot a couple months back and asked him about how effective it is. He observed that in most cases it's effective, but he doesn't bother getting one himself. What he told me backs up the link that Texashiker provides and is why he doesn't bother getting one.
I'll continue to get them myself since it's cheap insurance imo.

 

[Sonikku]

Flu vaccines are tricky to make because flu viruses are constantly changing and because human immune response wanes quickly after immunization, Bresee said.

Post is bogus. The concept that viruses are constantly changing and adapting suggests evolution. Evolution of course is a fairy tale as most of us know already.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Seatbelts are not effective in minimizing accident deaths as laymen thought. Therefore, we should stop using seatbelts.

/end thread.

 

[Texashiker]

Seatbelts are not effective in minimizing accident deaths as laymen thought. Therefore, we should stop using seatbelts.

Did you bother to read the linked article in the opening post?

What is it with people jumping to conclusions without reading the evidence?

This thread is not about vaccines in general, but rather how this years vaccine was not as effective as thought.